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Seeking a deeper connection with God, Janeen R. Adil of Robeson Township became a commissioned minister of Christian spirituality with the United Church of Christ. She's shown here in Immanuel United Church of Christ, Shillington.

Finding ways to nourish spiritual hunger

Janeen R. Adil of Robeson Township helps people prepare to engage more closely and meaningfully with God.

Written by By Susan Shelly

About Hungry Soul Ministries

Founded in 2015 by Janeen R. Adil of Robeson Township, after she was commissioned in the United Church of Christ as a Minister of Christian Spirituality and trained as a spiritual director by Lancaster-based KAIROS: School of Spiritual Formation .

Offers spiritual counseling and programming for individuals and groups.

Programming dates and times are flexible, and programs are customized to meet the needs of an individual or group.

You can contact Adil at Hungry Soul Ministries at jadil@stpaulsbirdsboro.org.

Robeson Township, PA —

Janeen R. Adil has been an active member of mainline Protestant churches all her life, but it wasn't until about 12 years ago that she began discerning what she described as a "spiritual hunger."

"There was just this growing sense that something was missing," said Adil of Robeson Township. "I came to realize that simply being in worship on a Sunday morning was akin to a starving person who eats only once a week. My nourishment was incomplete."

Not sure how to address this dilemma, Adil, who was about 50 at the time, began reading. One book in particular, "The Practice of the Presence of God," written by a 17th century Carmelite monk named Brother Lawrence, resonated with her.

"I had that book for years, but the time had come when I was finally ready to read it," she said.

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She read more and more, and then began attending retreats and workshops and engaging in a variety of spiritual practices and disciplines.

"One thing led to another, and to another and to another," she said.

Eventually, Adil ended up attending classes at Lancaster Theological Seminary, as well as attending retreats and programs offered by Lancaster-based KAIROS: School of Spiritual Formation.

In 2014 she was commissioned in the United Church of Christ as a minister of Christian spirituality and soon founded Hungry Soul Ministries, through which she conducts workshops and offers spiritual counseling and programming to individuals and groups.

"The Bible has many references to spiritual hunger and thirst, so the name came out of scriptural tradition," Adil explained. "It's a name that reflects both my own hunger, and hunger I see in others as they come to discover for themselves that God, or however we name the holy, is already at work in their lives."

The idea of spiritual practices and disciplines means different things to different people, but basically they prepare us to engage more closely and meaningfully with God.

"They're ways of entering into a deeper engagement, a more intimate relationship with God," she said.

Examples of spiritual practices included fasting from eating or another activity, practicing hospitality, walking a labyrinth, meditation, contemplative prayer or reading. What makes these practices spiritual, Adil explained, is that they're done with the intention of becoming more open to the presence of God.

The concept of spiritual practice and discipline is as old as Christianity but is being rediscovered by people of faith who are looking to dig deeper into their spirituality.

"It's one of those old things in the church that's becoming new again," she said.

Adil believes that Protestant churches began moving away from spiritual practice and discipline after the 16th century Reformation.

"I think we started trying to get to know about God, instead of simply trying to get to know God," she said.

For those interested in spiritual practice and getting to know God on a deeper level, Adil recommends starting with a workshop or by reading some books that explore the topic.

She is offering a series of workshops this spring on Lenten spiritual practices and can recommend readings for those interested. While spiritual practices are not widely taught, they are not difficult to learn for those seeking a closer relationship with the divine.

"We were created for this loving, intimate relationship with God, and spiritual practices can be an unfolding into that relationship," Adil said.

Contact Susan Shelly: life@readingeagle.com.

About Hungry Soul Ministries

Founded in 2015 by Janeen R. Adil of Robeson Township, after she was commissioned in the United Church of Christ as a Minister of Christian Spirituality and trained as a spiritual director by Lancaster-based KAIROS: School of Spiritual Formation .

Offers spiritual counseling and programming for individuals and groups.

Programming dates and times are flexible, and programs are customized to meet the needs of an individual or group.

You can contact Adil at Hungry Soul Ministries at jadil@stpaulsbirdsboro.org.